A saltire, also called Saint Andrew's Cross or the crux decussata, is a Heraldry, heraldic symbol in the form of a diagonal cross, like the shape of the letter X in Roman type. The word comes from the Middle French ''sautoir'', Medieval Latin ''saltatoria'' ("stirrup"). From its use as field sign, the saltire came to be used in a number of flags, in the 16th century for Flag of Scotland, Scotland and Cross of Burgundy, Burgundy, in the 18th century also as the ensign of the Ensign of the Russian Navy, Russian Navy, and Saint Patrick's Saltire, for Ireland. Notable 19th-century usage includes some of the flags of the Confederate States of America. It is also used in the flag of Jamaica and on Seal (emblem), seals, and as a Charge (heraldry), heraldic charge in Coat of arms, coats of arms. The term saltirewise or in saltire refers to heraldic charges arranged as a diagonal cross. The Escutcheon (heraldry), shield may also be Division of the field, divided per saltire, i.e. diagonally. A warning sign in the shape of a saltire is also used to indicate the point at which a Level crossing, railway line intersects a road at a level crossing.

Heraldry and vexillology

The saltire is important both in heraldry, being found in many coats of arms, and in vexillology, being found as the dominant feature of multiple flags. Ötingen ZW

The saltire is one of the so-called ordinary (heraldry), ordinaries, geometric Charge (heraldry), charges that span throughout (from edge to edge of) the shield. As suggested by the name ''saltire'' ("stirrup"; in French: '':wikt:sautoir#French, sautoir'', in German: '':wikt:schräg#Etymology, Schragen''), the ordinary in its early use was not intended as representing a Christian cross symbol. The association with Saint Andrew is a development of the 15th to 16th centuries. The Cross of Burgundy emblem originates in the 15th century, as a field sign, and as the Saint Andrew's Cross of Flag of Scotland, Scotland was used in flags or banners (but not in coats of arms) from the 16th century, and used as naval ensign during the Age of Sail. When two or more saltires appear, they are usually blazoned as Attitude (heraldry), couped (cut off). For example, contrast the single saltire in the arms granted to G. M. W. Anderson—with the three ''saltires couped'' in the coat of Kemble Greenwood. Ordinary (heraldry)#Diminutive of the saltire, Diminutive forms include the ''fillet saltire'', usually considered half or less the width of the saltire, and the ''saltorel'', a narrow or couped saltire. A field ''(party) per saltire'' is divided into four areas by a saltire-shaped "cut". If two Tincture (heraldry), tinctures are specified, the first refers to the areas above (in chief) and below (in base) the crossing, and the second refers to the ones on either side (in the flanks). Otherwise, each of the four divisions may be blazoned separately. The phrase ''in saltire'' or ''saltirewise'' is used in two ways: # Two long narrow charges "in saltire" are placed to cross each other diagonally. Common forms include the crossed key (lock), keys found in the arms of many entities associated with Saint Peter and paired arrows. # When five or more compact charges are "in saltire", they are arranged with one in the center and the others along the arms of an invisible saltire. Division of the field ''per saltire'' was notably used by the Crown of Aragon, Aragonese kings of Kingdom of Sicily, Sicily beginning in the 14th century (Frederick the Simple), showing the pales of Aragon and the "Hohenstaufen" eagle (argent an Reichsadler, eagle sable).

Scotland

The Flag of Scotland, called ''The Saltire'' or ''Saint Andrew's Cross'', is a blue field with a white saltire. According to tradition, it represents Saint Andrew, who is supposed to have been crucified on a cross of that form (called a ''crux decussata'') at Patras, Greece. The Saint Andrew's Cross was worn as a badge on hats in Scotland, on the day of the Feast day, feast of Saint Andrew. In the politics of Scotland, both the Scottish National Party and Scottish Conservative Party use stylised saltires as their party logos, deriving from the flag of Scotland. Prior to the Acts of Union, 1707, Union the Royal Scots Navy used a red ensign incorporating the St Andrew's Cross; this ensign is now sometimes flown as part of an unofficial civil ensign in Scottish waters. With its colours exchanged (and a lighter blue), the same design forms part of the Coat of Arms of Nova Scotia, arms and flag of Nova Scotia (whose name means "New Scotland").

Cross of Burgundy

The Cross of Burgundy, a form of the Saint Andrew's Cross, is used in numerous flags across Europe and the Americas. It was first used in the 15th century as an emblem by the House of Valois-Burgundy, Valois Dukes of Burgundy. The Duchy of Burgundy, forming a large part of eastern France and the Low Countries, was inherited by the House of Habsburg on the extinction of the Valois ducal line. The emblem was therefore assumed by the monarchs of Spain as a consequence of the Habsburgs bringing together, in the early 16th century, their Burgundian inheritance with the other extensive possessions they inherited throughout Europe and the Americas, including the crowns of Crown of Castile, Castile and Crown of Aragon, Aragon. As a result, the Cross of Burgundy has appeared in a wide variety of flags connected with territories formerly part of the Burgundian or Habsburg inheritance. Examples of such diversity include the Spanish naval ensign (1506-1701), the flag of Carlism (a nineteenth century Spanish conservative movement), the flag of the Dutch capital of Amsterdam and municipality of Eijsden, the flag of Chuquisaca Department, Chuquisaca in Bolivia and the flags of the US states of Florida and Alabama.

Gascony

Gascony has not had any institutional unity since the 11th century, hence Gascony#Flags, several flags are currently used in the territory. Legend says that this flag appeared in the time of Pope Clement III to gather the Gascons during the Third Crusade (12th century). That flag, sometimes called "Union Gascona" (Gascon Union), contains the St Andrew's cross, the patron saint of Bordeaux and the red color of English kingdom, which reigned over Gascony from 12th to mid-15th century. In Tome 14 of the La Grande Encyclopédie, Grande Encyclopédie, published in France between 1886 and 1902 by Henri Lamirault, it says That saltire is also represented in the pattern of some in many bullrings in Gascony.

Maritime flags

The naval Maritime flags, ensign of the Imperial Russian Navy, Imperial Russian (1696–1917) and Russian Navy, Russian navies (1991–present) is a blue saltire on a white field. The international maritime signal flag for ''M'' is a white saltire on a blue background, and indicates a stopped vessel. A red saltire on a white background denotes the letter ''V'' and the message "I require assistance".

Others

The flags of the Colombian archipelago of San Andrés and Providencia Department, San Andrés and Providencia and the Spanish island of Flag of Tenerife, Tenerife also use a white saltire on a blue field. The Brazilian cities of Rio de Janeiro and Fortaleza also use a blue saltire on a white field, with their coats-of-arms at the hub. Saltires are also seen in several other flags, including the flags of Flag of Grenada, Grenada, Flag of Jamaica, Jamaica, Flag of Alabama, Alabama, Flag of Florida, Florida, Flag of Jersey, Jersey, Logroño, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Vitoria, Flag of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Breda, Katwijk, Potchefstroom, Bandera del Bierzo, The Bierzo and flag of Valdivia, Valdivia, as well as the former Indian princely states of Khairpur (princely state), Khairpur, Rajkot State, Rajkot and Jaora State, Jaora. The design is also part of the Confederate Battle Flag and Flags of the Confederate States of America#Naval flags, Naval Jack used during the American Civil War (see Flags of the Confederate States of America). Arthur L. Rogers, designer of the final version of the Confederate National flag, claimed that it was based on the saltire of Scotland. The saltire is used on modern-day Southern U.S. state flags to honour the former Confederacy.

Christian symbol

Anne Roes (1937) identifies a design consisting of two crossing diagonal lines in a rectangle, sometimes with four dots or balls in the four quarters, as an emblem or ''vexillum'' (standard) of Persepolis during the 3rd to 2nd centuries BC. Roes also finds the design in Argive vase painting, and still earlier in button seals of the Iranian Chalcolithic. Roes also notes the occurrence of a very similar if not identical ''vexillum'' which repeatedly occurs in Gaulish coins of c. the 2nd to 1st century BC, in a recurring design where it is held by a charioteer in front of his human-headed horse. A large number of coins of this type (118 out of 152 items) forms part of the Les Sablons hoard of the 1st century BC, discovered in Le Mans between 1991 and 1997, associated with the Aulerci Cenomani, Cenomani. The same design is found on coins of Christian Roman emperors of the 4th to 5th centuries (Constantius II, Valentinian III, Valentinian, Jovian (Emperor), Jovian, Gratianus, Valens, Arcadius, Constantine III (western emperor), Constantine III, Jovinus, Theodosius I, Eugenius and Theodosius II). The letter Chi (letter), Χ (Chi) was from an early time used as a symbol for Christ (unrelated to the Christian cross symbol, which at the time was given a Tau cross, T-shape). The ''vexillum'' on imperial coins from the 4th century was sometimes shown as the Labarum, surmounted by or displaying the Chi-Rho monogram rather than just the ''crux decussata''. The emblem of the ''crux decussata'' in a rectangle, sometimes with four dots or balls, re-appears in coins the Byzantine Empire, in the 9th to 10th centuries. Roes suggested that early Christians endorsed its solar symbolism as appropriate to Christ. File:Alerque Cénoman statère.jpg, Gold stater of the Aulerci Cenomani, Cenomani, on the reverse an androcephalous horse led by a charioteer extending a ''vexillum'' in front of it, riding over a fallen enemy. File:INC-3061-r Солид. Феодосий I Великий. Ок. 393—395 гг. (реверс).png, Coin of Theodosius I (393–395), with a ''vexillum'' displaying a ''crux decussata'' File:Tesoretto di sovana 070 solido di teodosio II (425-429), zecca di costantinopoli Θ (theta).JPG, Coin of Theodosius II (425–429), showing the emperor with globus cruciger and with the same ''vexillum'' The association with Saint Andrew develops in the late medieval period. The tradition according to which this saint was crucified on a decussate cross is not found in early hagiography. Depictions of Saint Andrew being crucified in this manner first appear in the 10th century, but do not become standard before the 17th century. Reference to the saltire as "St Andrew's Cross" is made by the Parliament of Scotland (where Andrew had been adopted as patron saint) in 1385, in a decree to the effect that every Scottish and French soldier (fighting against the English invasion of Scotland (1385), English under Richard II) "shall have a sign before and behind, namely a white St. Andrew's Cross". File:St Andrew crucified on a diagonal cross.jpg, Saint Andrew martyred on a decussate cross (miniature from an East Anglian missal, c. 1320) File:Braunschweig-Lüneburg, Taler 1688, Clausthal, CNG.jpg, Saint Andrew holding his cross on a ''Thaler, Taler'' of Ernest Augustus, Elector of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1688)

Other

The diagonal cross (decussate cross) or X mark is called "saltire" in heraldic and vexillological contexts. A black diagonal cross was used in an old European Union standard as the hazard symbol for irritants (Xi) or harmful chemicals (Xn). It indicated a hazard less severe than skull and crossbones (poison), skull and crossbones, used for poisons, or the corrosive sign. The Maria Theresa thaler has a Roman numeral ten to symbolize the 1750 debasement of the coinage, from 9 to 10 thalers to the Vienna mark (a weight of silver). A diagonal cross known as "crossbuck" is used as the conventional road sign used to indicate the point at which a railway line intersects a road at a level crossing, called a in this context. A white diagonal cross on a blue background (or black on yellow for temporary signs) is displayed in UK railway signalling as a "cancelling indicator" for the Automatic Warning System (AWS), informing the driver that the received warning can be disregarded. In Cameroon, a red "X" placed on illegally constructed buildings scheduled for demolition is occasionally referred to as a "St Andrew's Cross". It is usually accompanied by the letters "A.D." ("à détruire"—French for "to be demolished") and a date or deadline. During a campaign of urban renewal by the Yaoundé Urban Council in Cameroon, the cross was popularly referred to as "Tsimi's Cross" after the Government Delegate to the council, Gilbert Tsimi Evouna. In Timber framing, traditional timber framing a pair of crossing braces is sometimes called a saltire or a St. Andrew's Cross. Half-timbering, particularly in France and Germany, has patterns of framing members forming many different symbols known as ornamental bracing. Unicode encoded various X mark#Unicode, decussate crosses under the name of saltire, they are , , , , , , and .

Gallery

Coats of arms

File:Neville.svg, Gules a saltire argent (House of Neville, Neville) File:St Albans COA.svg, Azure a saltire or (Saint Alban's Cross, St Albans 1634) File:Katwijk wapen.svg, Argent a saltire azure (Katwijk) File:Arms of the Gage family of Hengrave.png, Per saltire azure and argent, a saltire gules (Rokewode-Gage baronets, Gage of Hengrave) File:Scarsdale (Leke) Escutcheon.png, Argent on a saltire engrailed sable nine annulets of the field (Earl of Scarsdale) File:BeaumontWillingtonArmsGittishamDevon.JPG, Quarterly 1st & 4th: Barry of six [seven] vair and gules; 2nd & 3rd: Gules, a saltire vair (Henry Beaumont of Devon, d.1591) File:Blason ville fr Busséol (Puy-de-Dôme).svg, Argent a saltire floretty gules (Busséol) File:DEU Klein-Winternheim COA.svg, Gules a fillet saltire couped argent above a wheel of the same (Klein-Winternheim) File:Escudo de San Andrés y Providencia.svg, Coat of arms of the Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina, San Andrés Archipelago ;saltirewise File:Coat_of_arms_of_the_Vatican_City.svg, Gules two keys in saltire argent (Coats of arms of the Holy See and Vatican City) File:Arms of Navarre-Coat of Arms of Spain Template.svg, Gules a cross saltire and orle of chains linked together or, in the fess point an emerald vert (Kingdom of Navarre) File:C o a Nicolaus V.svg, Gules two keys argent saltirewise (Papal coat of arms for Pope Nicholas V, 1447) File:BodleyArms.png, Argent five martlets saltirewise sable on a chief azure three ducal crowns or (Thomas Bodley, Bodley) File:Coat of arms of Kharkiv.svg, Vert bordure or a caduceus argent and or and a cornucopia or with fruits and vegetables proper saltirewise (Coat of arms of Kharkiv, Ukraine) File:Emblem of the Federal Customs Service of Russia.svg, Vert bordure or a torch and a caduceus or saltirewise (Federal Customs Service of Russia) ;in supporters File:Wernigeroder Wappenbuch 022.jpg, Papal coat of arms for Pope Innocent VIII with the Keys of Peter saltirewise (Wernigerode Armorial, c. 1490) File:Royal Coat of arms of Spain (1700-1761)-Common Version of the Colours.svg, Coat of arms of the King of Spain#Ornamented versions of the historical royal coats of arms, Royal Coat of Arms of Spain (1700–1761)*Álvarez Abeilhé, Juan. L''a bandera de España. El origen militar de los símbolos de España.'' Revista de Historia Militar Año LIV (2010). Núm extraord. Madrid: Ministerio de Defensa. . PP. 37-69. File:National Coat of arms of Spain (Until 1931)-Version of the Colours.svg , Coat of arms of Spain#Historical Spanish coats of arms, Coat of arms of Spain (1874–1931) File:Coat of arms of Barbados (3).svg, Coat of arms of Barbados with Sugar Cane held saltirewise. File:Brasao-Brigantina.png, Coat of arms of the House of Braganza.

Flags

File:Flag of the Vatican City.svg, Vatican City's flag (Flag of Vatican City) File:Saint Alban's cross.svg, Saint Alban's Cross, Saint Alban's flag (13th century) File:Kingdom of Sicily naval flag.svg, Naval flag of the Kingdom of Sicily (after Guillem Soler c. 1380), inheriting the ''per saltire'' division from the List of monarchs of Sicily#House of Barcelona, 1282–1410, royal coat of arms. File:Flag of Scotland (1-1).png, Flag of Scotland (c. 1507)As a naval flag for the carrack ''Great Michael''. As square flag carried by heraldic supporters c. 1542. File:Gascogne drapeau.svg, Flag of Gascony (15th century?) File:Flag of the Low Countries.svg, Cross of Burgundy, Cross of Burgundy Flag, Duchy of Burgundy and Burgundian Netherlands (15th century) File:Flag of Cross of Burgundy.svg, Cross of Burgundy, Cross of Burgundy Flag, Spanish Empire (16th century) File:Bandera de Chuquisaca y Sucre.svg, Flag of Sucre, La Plata City (Chuquisaca Department, Chuquisaca), (currently Bolivia) (1540) File:Flag of Valdivia, Chile.svg, Flag of Valdivia, Chile (1552) File:Tercio - Liga.svg, ''Tercio de la Liga'' (1571) File:St Patrick's saltire.svg, Saint Patrick's Saltire, Saint Patrick's Flag (1783) File:Flag of Great Britain (1707–1800).svg, Union Jack (1606) File:Union Jack 1606 Scotland.svg, Union Jack in Scotland (1606) File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg, Union Jack (1801) File:Tercio - Spínola.svg, ''Unknown Tercio flag (appears near commander Ambrogio Spinola in the painting "The Surrender of Breda" of Diego Velázquez)'' (1621) File:Tercio - Alburquerque.svg, ''Tercio de Alburquerque'' (1643) File:Tercio - Morados Viejos.svg, ''Tercio Morados Viejos'' (1670) File:Tercio - Amarillos Viejos.svg, ''Tercio Amarillos Viejos'' (1680) File:Scottish Covenanter Flag.svg, Covenanters, Scottish Covenanter flag (17th century) File:Reconstructed battle standard of Earl of Argyll 1685.svg, Flag of Argyll's Rising (1685) File:Naval Ensign of Russia.svg, Russian Navy Ensign, St Andrew's flag of the Russian Navy and Imperial Russian Navy (1712) File:Naval Jack of Russia.svg, Jack (flag), Jack of the Russian Navy (1992) File:Military ensign of Vistula Flotilla of Congress Poland.svg, Flag of Congress Poland (1815) File:Flag of Nova Scotia.svg, Flag of Nova Scotia (1858) File:North Virginia Third Bunting.svg, Confederate States of America, Confederate Army of Northern Virginia battle flag (1863–1865) File:Confederate Navy Jack (light blue).svg, Flags of the Confederate States of America#Naval flags, Confederate Naval jack (1863–1865) File:Flag of the Shanghai International Settlement pre-WWI.svg, Flag of Shanghai Municipal Council, Shanghai International Settlement (1869 – ) File:Flag of the Shanghai International Settlement.svg, Flag of Shanghai Municipal Council, Shanghai International Settlement (c. 1917 – 1943) File:South African Burgers Flag.svg, Flag of the South African Republic ("Thomas François Burgers, Burgers Flag") (1874–1875), also flag of Potchefstroom. File:Flag of Peru (1821-1822).svg, Flag of Peru (1821–1825) File:Bandeira da cidade do Rio de Janeiro.svg, Flag of Rio de Janeiro (city), Flag of Rio de Janeiro (1908) File:Flag of the Empire of China (1915–1916) - variant.svg, Flag of the Empire of China (1915–1916) File:Black St. Andrew flag.svg, White movement, White Army Sergey Markov, General Markov's Regiment flag (1917–1922) File:Naval Ensign of the Far Eastern Republic.svg, Naval flag of the Far Eastern Republic (1921–1922) File:Naval Jack of Estonia.svg, Jack of the Estonian Navy (1926–1940, 1992) File:Flag of Minister of Finance of ROC.svg, Flag of Minister of Finance (Taiwan), Minister of Finance of the Republic of China (1929) File:Bandeira de Fortaleza.svg, Flag of Fortaleza (1958) File:Flag of Jamaica.svg, Flag of Jamaica (1962) File:Village flag of Katwijk (ZH) 1970.svg, Flag of Katwijk (1970) File:Banner of Krakow.svg, Symbols of Kraków, Banner of Kraków (2004) File:Flag of Grenada.svg, Flag of Grenada (1974) File:Flag of Amsterdam.svg, Flag of Amsterdam (1975) File:Flag of the Basque Country.svg, Flag of the Basque Country (autonomous community), Basque Country (the ''Ikurriña, Ikurrina'') (1978) File:Flag of Newfoundland and Labrador.svg, Flag of Newfoundland and Labrador (1980) File:Flag of Jersey.svg, Flag of Jersey (1981) File:Flag of Burundi.svg, Flag of Burundi (1982) File:Flag of Tenerife.svg, Flag of Tenerife (1989) File:Russia, Flag of the Customs 1994.svg, Flag of the Federal Customs Service of Russia (1994) File:Flag of the Georgian Coast Guard.png, Ceremonial ensign of the Coast Guard of Georgia (1999) File:Battle ensign of the Coast Guard of Georgia.svg, Battle ensign of the Coast Guard of Georgia (2004) File:Naval Ensign of Georgia.svg, Naval Ensign of Georgia (2004–2009) File:Russia, Flag of border service 2008.svg, Flag of the Coast Guard (Russia), Russian Coast Guard (2008) File:Flag of Arkhangelsk Oblast.svg, Flag of Arkhangelsk Oblast (2009) File:Katwijk vlag.svg, Flag of Katwijk (2009) File:War Flag of Novorussia.svg, Flag of Novorossiya (2014) File:Auto Racing White Cross.svg, Auto racing Racing flags, disqualification flag ;International Code of Signals File:ICS Mike.svg, International Code of Signals#Single-flag signals, Mike File:ICS Victor.svg, International Code of Signals#Single-flag signals, Victor ;US states File:Flag_of_Alabama.svg, Flag of Alabama (1895) File:Flag_of_Florida.svg, Flag of Florida (1868) File:Flag of the State of Georgia (1956–2001).svg, Flag of Georgia (U.S. state), Flag of Georgia (1956–2001) File:Flag_of_Mississippi_(2001–2020).svg, Flag of Mississippi (1894–2020)

Military insignia

File:Royal Regiment of Scotland TRF.png , Tactical recognition flash, Tactical Recognition Flash of the Royal Regiment of Scotland File:Spanish Air Force fin flash.svg , Spanish Air Force fin flash File:Roundel of Bulgaria (1941-1944).svg , Bulgarian Air Force roundel (1941–1944) File:10th Mountain Division SSI.svg, Bayonets ''in saltire'' create Roman numeral X for the US Army's 10th Mountain Division.

Orders

File:Insignia of Knight of the Thistle.png, Order of the Thistle File:Insignia of Knight of St Patrick.jpg, Order of St Patrick File:Ridder in de Militaire Willems-Orde.jpg, Military Order of William File:Andrey1.jpg, Order of St Andrew

Notes

References

External links

* {{Christian crosses Andrew the Apostle Christian crosses Cross symbols Crosses in heraldry Flags of saints Heraldic ordinaries Saltire flags Timber framing